Staff Favorites - Eric Story

Reviews

I fell in love with these wines long before I had the opportunity to visit the magical island of Santorini. If there was ever a wine that immediately tells you from where it came, it would be this. Salty, minerally and full of verve and character. One of the best from the island!

Beautifully aged and a pure expression of my favorite varietal, Cabernet Franc. You can feel the warmth of the vintage thru the middle and on the finish. Even though this has some age on it, it could use a bit of air/decanting.

For having such a simple approach to making wine, Eric Cottat really shines. There is a real sense of class which starts in the aromatic and runs thru the finish. Nicely textured all the while being bright and vibrant with good lift and finishing balance.

A new “go to” sparkler for us here at K&L. Crispy with hints of fresh dough and bright herbs. A really nice bubble which is not aggressive in anyway and a crispy finish. Perfect for an inexpensive Champagne replacement.

From one of my favorite people in Sancerre and a man with a fantastic name. Eric Cottat’s Rose is one that I patiently wait for every vintage now. Such an old school simple approach which finalizes into a beauty of wine. I love to have this on hand as often as I can in order to fill not only my rose cravings but my wife’s too…

Such a great example of old vine power with matched elegance elegance. This is really just now starting to drink well. But, can be cellared for many years to come. Fresh yet hearty style of wine which should definitely be had with a nice home cooked meal.

This inexpensive little treat brings just a bit more palate texture and some racy tropical notes as well. Although you get a good sense of minerality this wine is more fruit driven with a nice finishing balance. Clean with a soft body and fine length.

This wine is a perfect example of clean, fresh and unadulterated Cabernet Franc. Bright and pure on the palate with good lift and vibrancy on the finish. I even like to serve this just ever so slightly chilled during the warmer months.

Comprised of 80% Gamay and 20% Pinot Noir. The complexity of the Pinot Noir shows up-front with lots of spicy red fruits with a backing of mineral. On the palate the Gamay shows its fun side and adds to the juicy texture. I really like the blend of these two grapes and think they play perfectly together. Really cheery, everyday style of rosé. Côteaux du Giennois is a fairly new AOC, established in 1997, and is situated just north of Pouilly Fumé. Only three varietals are allowed to be grown under the AOC designate, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Gamay and the soils are a mixture of silex and calcaire.

Vines planted in primarily schist soils but with a bit of quartz and just a touch off sand as well. Quite an explosive wine. Full of ripe crunchy apple along with layer after layer of honeyed tea and roasted nuts. A definite candidate for the cellar. Or, even just having a glass a day over a week long span to see how this slow evolver will change. I put this into the Savennières powerhouse category.

Do you like puppies? Do you like kittens? Do you like the smell of fresh laundry? Do you like walks on the beach? If you said yes to one or more of these questions you will like this wine. This a gulpable style of rosé as which its life was intended. Very fresh with loads of strawberry and watermelon. Light on the palate with good balance between fruit and acid. This will save you on a hot day…

If there was ever a summertime wine, this is it. Low-alcohol, fruity and refreshing, this is what I desire while having fun in the sun. I call this a cooler wine and should be ready to be pulled out of the ice at a moment’s notice.

Easy drinking and on the lighter side of the Chinon spectrum which, is exactly what this wine is meant to be. I personally like to have a glass of this in my left hand while munching down on a grilled cheeseburger in my right.

Savennières grows the Chenin Blanc grape, the wine is in short supply, and has been described as more "cerebral" than Vouvray. Pop that cork mindfully, and enjoy - this is from a solid producer better known for his "Les Genets" and "Le Bel Ouvrage" bottlings.

Yet another must-have in the fridge at all times, says the boss, aka, my wife. Super quaffable and party-friendly. This is the perfect example of a summertime wine. So far, my favorite pairing has to be grilled sausages and mixed grilled vegetables.

Fantastic fantastic fantastic wine for $12.99! Not only is this a really good wine but the people behind it are just as fantastic. Crispy bright white fruits with loads of juicy mineral and ripe acidity to finish. Absolutely fantastic with crab cakes... trust me, my belly knows!

A foundation and classic style of Sancerre. This is all about the simple purity of fruit. With that along comes a very accessible, easy but well built everyday style of wine. One of my go to wines, for sure.

Light in color, as is typical for Sancerre Rosé, this has lively aromas of small red fruits with soft underlying minerals and just a hint of rich citrus. Light and playful on the palate with some Mirabelle, cherry and watermelon. Although a light and fresh style of rosé, this has nice weight and texture to it on the finish and it's very easy and fun to drink while grilling and chilling with friends. 100% Pinot Noir.

This wine is in my top five of what the wife and I call “deck slammers” – the bottle that only spends about six minutes in the ice bucket and then it’s time for another. Light fresh strawberry aromatics with a touch of mineral running thru the finish and lots of juicy lift. I love this wine with a cold beet salad drizzled with a simple herb vinaigrette. Awesome with a roasted chicken!

Crispy, fresh, vibrant and what I call a benchmark style of Sancerre. This is a keep in the fridge at all times kind of wine. Bright with some citrus notes running through and of course, the classic limestone minerality. Great as an aperitif and/or with a fresh summer salad sprinkled with goat cheese.

More on the soft and elegant side of the Pinot Noir rosé spectrum. I really like the subtle texture that adds to the finesse of the wine. This is a perfect wine to have with a roasted pork loin sandwich while sitting on a blanket at the beach… or park… or wherever really.

The 2011 Von Hövel "Estate" Riesling Kabinett is a little sneaker of a wine. Up front is shows its softer side with elegant fruit texture and a lusher middle. And, as the middle starts its approach you realize that there is quite a bit more going on than just fruit. You begin to feel the drive and focus of the edgy, earthy mineral structure being balanced out with its ripe tropical acidity that coats the palate in a wash of lingering flavors and textures. Try this with a smoked trout and farmer’s cheese crostini topped with just a speck of pickled beet. Or, sashimi with a light drizzle of citrus vinaigrette and a paper thin slice of spicy chili.

We were first introduced to the wines of Eric Cottat a little less than a year ago. They were brought to our attention by one of our long time friends and winemakers in Sancerre and we brought in a small amount as that was all we were allowed to take at the time. Eric is a one man show and only produces a small amount of wines each vintage for family, friends, and close customers and then sells the rest of his fruit off to other eager producers in the region. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to pay Mr. Cottat a visit and quickly became enamored by what and how he goes about doing things. He speaks no English (my French is laughable) but he actually took the time to handwrite a cheat sheet of important translations and made sure that I wasn't going to leave until I got it. So, we tasted through all three of the wines a few times over - blanc, rosé and rouge. And, well, I got it! Right then and there I tried to order up as much as of his wines as I could and had no hesitation of making his wines as part of our core Loire program. And, thank you, Mr Eric Cottat! You are my type of people!

One of the few things my wife lets me be in charge of is making sure that we have plenty of good rosé at the ready and in the fridge. Guess what is in the fridge? With its subtle sweet red fruit aromatic and crisp refreshing finish, it’s a no brainer.

The Gaisberg quite possibly be one of my favorite vineyards in Kamptal. The finesse of the wines coming off of this hill is all its own. And, I love what Allram is doing with it and their wines coming from it. The extended textures on the middle palate are what really get me here. Then, mix that along with the vibrant yet dense aromatic and drawn out finish… Blammo.

If you are familiar with the Allram GV in the awesome one liter bottle and think to yourself, I like this grape, what else is there, this is the next step. A bit more added depth and structure but, still not coming close to putting a dent in your bank account. I like this for takeout Tuesday dinner night. It will pair up with just about anything.

My favorite thing about this wine is the commitment you have to put into it. It is finished with a crown cap and once it is off you and your friends are in for the ride. This is easy and fun to drink on any occasion. On those really hot days I have been known to use it for afternoon spritzers: one part Allram GV and one part sparkling water.

Very good fruit extract highlighted by fresh minerals and extended by the juicy citrus mineral finish. This is a take me home and sit down with a meal type of wine. Lots of character in this wine which will make you think and want to explore even more.

I've been after this wine for years now. These wines are part of the upper tier of the Sancerre pyramid. This wine in particular has a richness followed up by a powerful core of spiced yellow fruit and lots of length which is provided by a wet mineral and snappy finish. Give this time to breath…

This is what Spätlese from the Nahe is all about. Clear mineral definition wrapped up by well defined juicy layers and a hint of salinity to drive out the finish. Once again, House Dönnhoff, superb job!

The wines from Musar continue to fascinate me again and again. I find this wine absolutely intriguing. It truly has the ability to make you think and ponder about how much we don’t know. Young now with lots of life ahead of it.

My favorite vintage of “Draggy” yet! This shows all of the textural power and drive that came along with the 2013 vintage while retaining freshness and vibrancy - a really nice example of the vintage. But, most importantly this is a quintessential porch slammer.

I really like this wine for its play on acidity and residual fruit sugar. You think it’s going to be sweet and then a cleansing wave of bright acidity and mineral balances everything out and also gives for a long juicy finish.

I can’t get enough of this stunning Xinomavro. It truly has everything that I’m looking for in a red wine. It has elegance, power, spice, hints of earth, balanced structure, juicy yet persistent acidity… Most definitely a wine to be had with food. Decant for half a day or cellar for 5, 7, 10+ years.

I’m a huge fan of Gaudry Sancerre in general. But this one is special. Fantastic old vine concentration and depth of fruit really makes this stand out. The balance of mineral and savory fruit flavors, for me, very thought provoking and inspiring.

Having a wine of this quality in a liter sized bottle makes me happy. A refreshing yet stylized crispy white that makes you feel like you can drink it all day long and never get tired of it. Fantastic house white and for any occasion.

I've been here at K&L long enough to try each and every vintage of this wine. And, I can honestly say that each and every vintage has gotten better and better. Not only is this Sancerre one of my favorites but, the entire staff loves it as well. It’s been a love affair that started off fast and hot and then happily progressed into something meaningful and long term.

One of my go-to grab bottles when I need something crisp and crowd-friendly. Has all of the qualities that a wine guy like me looks for in a wine, but, without being overly geeky or cerebral. Clean, fresh and inviting is what you’ll be getting in this wine. Yes, it’s a great deal, but even more so, it is a fantastic wine.

How can you go wrong with a rosé sparkler — especially under $20? Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this is jam-packed with crunchy red fruits and spicy strawberry sweetness. Delightful on its own, as an aperitif, with a first course salad, or with a plate of cheese and a hearty loaf of fresh-baked bread. The label should say "A Happy Rosé"